A SPECIAL NIGHT AT SHELBOURNE

Ian Fortune

Shelbourne Park is a special place that produces special nights.

That was the case on Saturday as the best greyhounds on the planet provided the most incredible action imaginable.

Of course, the quarter finals of the Boylesports Irish Greyhound Derby were the feature and each of the four heats were worth the admission alone, but throw in some astounding racing in the Michael Fortune Memorial Derby Plate, the semis of the Gourmet Island Puppy Oaks and a scarcely believable track record (see separate story) and it really was one of the great nights at HQ.

Heat by Heat guide to the quarter final action:

Heat 1 – BOMBAY PAT AT HIS BEST

Bombay Pat was a drifter ahead of the opening heat as the cash came in floods for De Lahdedah but it was clear from early that the 5-2 available about the former was overly generous.

In what was the hottest contest on paper of the Derby thus far, Bombay Pat was imperious.

This was a contest where none of the six ‘took a flier’. Instead, after a level start, Bombay Pat quickened into the lead in the style of a greyhound that meant business. Racing clear of Ballinabola Jim and Cheque For Cash, the son of Pestana and Clear Mountain would turn with three lengths in hand before setting out to put the verdict beyond doubt.

Cheque For Cash moved second on the bend but had no answer to the leader. Bombay Pat drew right away into the third turn to lead by over five lengths. By this point Ballinabola Jim was upsides Cheque For Cash, while De Lahdedah was searching for room along the fence.

Trained by Graham Holland for Pat Muldoon and Bayliss Gee, Bombay Pat cruised home a six length winner in a superb 29.19. Second spot went to Ballinabola Jim, while the battle for third would provide the real drama.

With De Lahdedah attempting to get inside Cheque For Cash at the third turn, the pair clipped heels. Suddenly, their Derby challenge was gone. March On Freddie, who had been forced to check at the turn, losing his spot was back in the mix, going third before staying on to finish four lengths behind the runner-up.

Heat 2 – NOTHING LUCKY ABOUT JULIE’S SUCCESS

A Lucky Julie displayed just why she is the Oaks champion in Heat 2, showing astounding pace, power and determination to reel in long-time leader and hot favourite Cheap Sandwiches.

A 4-9 chance before the off, Cheap Sandwiches went up fast on the outside of the track to head the fast-starting A Lucky Julie.

For those that took the restrictive odds on offer about Cheap Sandwiches, the result seems set. Ballymac Briar went up fast along the fence and took up the chase down the back straight, displaying big pace into the third turn to get to within a length.

Cheap Sandwiches repelled the challenge of Ballymac Briar at this point, breaking his heart in the process. It was now the turn of A Lucky Julie to make her move. After losing her place into the opening turn, Jerry Melia’s daughter of Ballymac Bolger and Julies Paradise displayed fine track craft and pace to go third early in the back straight.

Closing into the third turn, she was just three lengths behind the leader and moving with real purpose. As Ballymac Briar began to capitulate, A Lucky Julie stepped around him between the last two bends. Staying wide off the final turn, she made her move on the outside of Cheap Sandwiches. Meanwhile, Singalong Dolly was also absolutely flying in behind the front two.

In a tremendous finish, A Lucky Julie arrived late and fast to beat Cheap Sandwiches by a half length in 29.31. Singalong Dolly, despite bumping Ballymac Briar as she moved third, would finish a further three parts of a length away.

Heat 3 – AWESOME ALDO SENDS A MESSAGE

Thomas Glynn’s Carrick Aldo may have been behind Bockos Diamond in his last two starts but the son of Droopys Sydney and Minnies Hazel sent out a clear warning that he is a serious Derby contender in Heat 3, showing all his many qualities to emerge a fastest of the round scorer in 29.15.

This was a contest that went largely to script. From an ideal draw in the stripes, ormer Irish Sprint Cup champion Carrick Aldo was backed into 11-10 and he duly obliged for his legion of supporters. Going up fast from his outside draw, he would hold Is She There into the turn to dominate to halfway.

Behind the leader, Is She There was under immediate pressure with Boylesports Bob urning on her heels. As early as the second turn it was obvious that Boylesports Bob was going to be the main threat to the favourite.

Carrick Aldo continued to enjoy his freedom up front, posting a fast 16.87 to the third turn. He was five lengths clear at this point but Boylesports Bob was now a clear second and motoring. While the latter inched closer with each stride, he never looked like getting to the David Murray trained Carrick Aldo.

In the end, Carrick Aldo, who seems to be relishing the challenges of the Derby, stayed on well to hold off his rival by a half-length. Predictably, Da Bold Falcon flew home to take third spot, some four and a half lengths behind Boylesports Bob.

Heat 4 – UNLUCKY THIRTEEEN FOR DIAMOND’S RIVALS

Bockos Diamond was typically brilliant in the last of the four quarter finals as he brough his winning sequence to thirteen in a row, although those that took 1-3 and shorter about the track record holder did have a moment of concern at trap rise.

He seemed to come away reasonably but took an immediate step to his right, losing a little momentum in the process. It meant that after a few strides he was only disputing third. Luckily, the fast-starting Scooby Pacemaker in four began to edge inwards leaving room up the middle of the track for Bockos Diamond to display all his outstanding pace.

Like a supercar taking on a family SUV from the lights, Bockos Diamond hit the accelerator to quickly move to the front. By the turn he had two lengths in hand on Seven Beach and, running a tremendous racing line, he would increase his advantage to four lengths by the time they straightened up.

Hawkfield Blue stayed close to the fence to dispute second into the back with Seven Beach but the duo were chasing shadows. Bockos Diamond continued to pile on the pressure down the back straight. Five lengths to the good at halfway, the Graham Holland trained superstar was in complete control.

The son of Dorotas Wildcat and Seaglass Shadow would coast home a comfortable and most impressive four and a half length winner in 29.19. Callaway Knegare would come through to take second. Well off the pace down the back straight, he drew closer into the third turn before slipping through on the fence. Seven Beach would tire, drifting off the final turn but held on to take third from a host of rivals a further length and a half adrift.     

Michael Fortune Memorial Derby Plate

The quarter finals of the Michael Fortune Memorial Derby Plate also provided some exceptional racing with the headlines going to Carmac King as he posted a brilliant 29.05.

The remaining heats were also won in good fashion by Hawkfield Abbie and Ventry Faith.

ABBIE SHOWS HER STRENGTH

Hawkfield Abbie took the opening heat, showing fine pace to pick up the long-time leader and hot favourite Tribal Syd.

The latter cut off Dark Dilemma at the corner to race clear of his rivals. The Ginger McGee trained Hawkfield Abbie would ride a bump on the turn to take up the chase in second.

Tribal Syd entered the back straight two and a half lengths to the good but Hawkfield Abbie was now in full pursuit, while Scooby The Boss was also close enough in third to mount a serious challenge. Tribal Say continued to dictate into the home straight but the wheels were starting to come off. As he tired, Hawkfield Abbie and Scooby The Boss closed fast. In a tremendous finish, Jerry Connors’ Hawkfield Abbie got up in the closing yards to win by a head from Scooby The Boss in 29.58 with Tribal Syd another length and a half adrift in third.

MIAMI KING REIGNS

Miami King won the second heat in similar fashion to Hawkfield Abbie, sitting in the slipstream of the pace-setter, Knockeen Dazzler before making his move on the run in to stop the clock in 29.50 for the second week running.

The latter flew up the outside of the track to dictate but Miami King was always too close in second.

Trained by Garry Dempsey for Tony Howard and Dave Lawrence, Miami King edged closer and closer to eventually hit the front on the run in. Elite Josh also attempted to get involved but ran into the back of Miami King. At the line, the son of Ballymac Vic and Newline Mo had a length and a half to spare over Elite Josh with Knockeen Dazzler just a short head back in third.

A REGAL DISPLAY FROM KING

Carmac King was at his very best in Heat 3, showing a clean pair of heels to his rivals throughout. Breaking smartly from trap five, which was the outside box after Coosane Pickles’ Withdrawal, he was afforded room to race in the early yards as those on his inner clashed.

Once going around in front, the hugely fast son of Droopys Sydney and Peters Queen always had matters in hand. Ballyhooly Bruno emerged a close second into the back strauifght but had no answer to the Owen Mckenna trained pace-setter. Timmy Carmody’s star eased on to eventually win by five and a half lengths in a brilliant 29.05. Ballyhooly Bruno was two lengths clear of Benalmadena Puma.   

FAITH COMPLETE’S OWEN’S BRACE

Owen McKenna struck minutes later to complete a quick double as Ventry Faith made the most of a perfect draw on the fence to win the last quarter final in front running fashion.

Padraig O’Murchu’s son of Droopys Sydney and Ballycowen Lucy doesn’t always get the start right but on this occasion he was pretty much paw-perfect.

Charging up the fence, he led Faypoint Harvey into the back straight. Rushy Meadows displayed fine pace into the third turn to go second but there was no catching the leader. Running right to the line, Ventry Faith emerged a comfortable two length winner over Rushy Meadows in 29.45. Faypoint Harvey was two and a half lengths further back in third.

Undercard

QUEEN GIVES RIVALS SLIP IN FINALE

The final race on the card was an Open Bitch 525 and the thoroughly likeable Darbys Queen was at her brilliant best as she shot from traps to make every inch.

Fastest into stride from four, the Podge Devaney trained daughter of Burgess Bucks and Bower Deise drove the turn to just clear Bockos Crystal.

In doing so, she forced her rival to check, leaving Darbys Queen clear of her pursuers. It was all she needed to secure the victory. She would go on to beat the fast-finishing Youandme Babe by two and a half lengths in 28.35.